Sango placed some wood by the fire and sighed. It was late and Kagome still hadn't returned. The stars twinkled brightly above the campsite as she starred into space thinking. Meanwhile, Miroku was pacing back and forth with his index finger and thumb on his chin. Shippo sat in silence and watched the two. He was probably a lot more worried then them. He had known Kagome the longest and was closest to her. Well, it had been InuYasha that was the closest to her but…
"Say, Sango, don't you think we should be searching for Lady Kagome?" Miroku suddenly asked. He had come to a halt and was now eyeing Sango. She looked up in bewilderment and blinked. "Well…I…guess," she mumbled. "But it's so late. Maybe it would be best to start in the morning." Miroku nodded and sighed.
It was so dangerous out in the woods…didn't Kagome know that? He wondered as he laid down beside Shippo and pulled a thin blanket over his shivering body. What if she was dead right now and they would come upon her lifeless body in the morning? Miroku's sine tingled at the thought. They couldn't lose two of their friends…it would be too horrible. Shippo started shuffling around which indicated he was having a bad dream. Sango was still awake and starring into the fire.
Please be alright Kagome, she thought, Don't get into trouble and be safe.
Kagome yawned and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and found herself against Koga. She blushed and backed away. Koga grunted in his sleep but only slumped. Kagome stood and stretched. She tried to remember why she had been sleeping against Koga and suddenly her eyes welled up with tears. Right. InuYasha was gone and she had fled from her friends. And then someone had attacked her and Koga had come to her rescue. As the events from the following day came back to her, Kagome looked up and realized it was night.
"I must have dozed off with Koga," she said, spotting some leftover fish and helping herself. "I wonder if I should wake him…" She chewed on the cold fish for a moment before nudging Koga. He grunted again and rolled over. Kagome giggled and elbowed him in the side. A very sleepy looking Koga slowly faced her and opened one eye.
"What?" he grumbled sleepily. "Oh, Kagome…" He sat up at once and smiled groggily. Kagome returned the smile and started chewing again. "Wait…it's the middle of the night Kagome! Can't I sleep?" Koga was pouting and folded his arms as well. Kagome restrained a loud laugh and shook her head.
"I want to go find the others. They must be so worried about me. Just taking off like that and all." Koga nodded and yawned. He stood and helped Kagome up. She finished her fish and threw the stick down into the fire before stomping it out. The moon lit their way along the forest path and Kagome shivered from cold. Koga suddenly realized this and gasped.
"Kagome, you're turning blue! Here, put these furs around your shoulders." He draped one of the fur blankets around her and she was instantly warmed. "Thank you Koga. So how come you were in this area? Usually you're over in the west with your pack…"
Koga hesitated but soon broke into a wide grin. "Ah, no reason. Just came to check up on you that's all!" Kagome pulled the fur tighter around her shoulders. "You came all this way just to see me?" she asked.
"Sure! After all, you are my woman."
"Now Koga, I never agreed to…" Kagome began but Koga interrupted her. "I know, but with InuTrasha out of the way, you're free to be mine!" He stopped himself and winced when he saw Kagome swallow and look away. "Kagome…I'm sorry..." She sniffed but turned and looked up at Koga. "I know Koga. Some day I'll be able to hear his name and not cry." They walked in silence for a ways until they reached a familiar clearing. Kagome stopped and her eyes got wide. Koga turned and looked at her.
"Kagome? You ok…?" But Kagome walked right on past him, eyes shut tight, until she was safely out of the clearing. And even then she didn't stop. "Kagome! Kagome, what is it?" Koga touched her shoulder but she only pulled away.
"It's nothing…just that clearing is where…" she gulped and picked up her pace. Koga understood and nodded. "I'm stupid…so stupid…" Kagome grumbled as she passed several blue berry bushes.
"Hey, don't say that! You're the smartest person I've ever met!" Koga comforted and grinned when Kagome thanked him.